EU Exit Negotiations

William Wragg Excerpts

Monday 13th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

We have been quite creative so far. Many of those who have been here a long time are already permanent residents. One of the things the Italian Government persuaded me was worth doing is ensuring that people’s transition to the new permanent residence is completely frictionless, requiring no more than a photograph and a criminality check. We have given those who will still be making the application a two-year grace period beyond our departure, and we published a report last week to show that the process will be simple, straightforward and very cheap. Those things are designed to make people feel more secure, as I hope they do, because I reiterate that we value the contribution of the 3 million Europeans who are in this country today.

[Mr William Wragg (Hazel Grove) (Con)]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that although the UK should negotiate on every issue, if we are to secure this country’s future, nothing should be agreed until everything is agreed, to coin a phrase?

[Mr Davis]

I never thought that I would accuse my hon. Friend of sounding like the European Commission, but that is its favourite phrase, and I stick by that, too.